Optical system having beam amplification
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsWayne H. Keene, Albert V. Jelalian, David B. McVicker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser radar system having amplification of the optical beam. In a system where it is desired to achieve greater information content or greater system sensitivity, one or more laser amplifiers in the beam paths provide greater optical power for increased distance. Eleven system architectures are disclosed for use with a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer, eleven are disclosed for use with a Fizeau interferometer, and three are disclosed for use in a noncoherent optical system. The embodiments are distinguished by the number and placement of the laser amplifiers in the optical paths of the system.
Claims27
A laser radar system for transmitting an optical beam toward a target and for detecting the target-reflected portion of said beam, said system including:
- a laser for producing a beam of optical energy along a first path;
- a beamsplitter in said first path for transmitting a first portion of said beam along said first path and for reflecting a second portion of said beam along a second path;
- means in said first path for altering the polarization of said first portion of said beam transmitted toward said target, and for further altering the polarization of said target-reflected portion of said beam;
- means in said first path responsive to the polarization of said first beam portion for transmitting said first beam portion therethrough, and responsive to the polarization of said target-reflected beam portion altered by said altering means for reflecting said target-reflected portion along a third path;
- a beam combiner for providing a combined beam from said second beam portion and said target-reflected portion on said third path, and for directing said combined beam along a fourth path;
- detector means responsive to said combined beam on said fourth path;
- and
- means in at least one of said first and third paths for amplifying the optical energy in said at least one path.
A laser radar system for transmitting an optical beam toward a target and for detecting the target-reflected portion of said beam, said system including:
- a laser for producing a beam of optical energy along a first path;
- local oscillator generating means in said first path, said local oscillator generating means for altering the polarization of an optical beam passing therethrough, said local oscillator generating means additionally reflecting a portion of said beam from said laser;
- means in said first path responsive to the polarization of said beam from said laser for transmitting said beam from said laser therethrough, and responsive to the polarization of said target-reflected beam altered by said local oscillator generating means for reflecting said target-reflected portion along a second path, and responsive also to the polarization of said beam portion reflected by said local oscillator generating means for reflecting said reflected beam portion along said second path;
- detector means responsive to said beam on said second path;
- and
- means in at least one of said first and second paths for amplifying the optical energy in said at least one path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.